Protecting, actuating, and sealing devices for valves in receptacles for gaseous media and the like



F. NINNELT May 22, 1962 PROTECTING, ACTUATING, AND SEALING DEVICES FOR VALVES IN RECEPTACLES FOR GASEOUS MEDIA AND THE LIKE Filed D80. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR.

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HIQHREL 5. flmd AV MQI y 1962 F. NINNELT 3,035,605

PROTECTING, ACTUATING, AND SEALING DEVICES FOR VALVES IN RECEPTACLES FOR GASEOUS MEDIA AND THE LIKE File'd Dec. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FKE? N m N Ec-T mourn 3. S12 we l May 22, 1962 F. NINNELT 3,035,605

PROTECTING, ACTUATING, AND SEALING DEVICES FOR VALVES IN RECEPTACLES FOR GASEOUS MEDIA AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q mawy United States Patent 3,035,605 PROTECTING, ACTUATING, AND SEALING DE- VICES FGR VALVES DI RECEPTACLES FOR GASEOUS MEDIA AND THE LIKE Fred Ninnelt, Waltlackerstrasse 15, Stuttgart- Zutfenhausen, Germany Filed Dec. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 781,335 Claims priority, application Germany Dec. 21, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 137-682) The present invention relates to receptacles for compressed and liquefied fluids, and more particularly to improvements in means for protecting, sealing, locking and opening the valves of such receptacles, as well as to means for suspending the receptacles in upright position.

An important object of the invention is to provide a protecting or shielding device for the valve of a metallic receptacle for highly compressed or liquefied gaseous media which need not be removed from the receptacle when the valve is opened either to permit entry of gases into, or to permit discharge of gases from, the receptacle, and which thus constitutes a permanent cover or cap for the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined valve protecting, opening and locking device which can be applied to different types of receptacles for C011]- pressed or liquefied gaseous media.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a protecting 0r shielding device for valves in receptacles for gaseous media which is so combined with valve locking means that the latter cannot be actuated during transportation or storage of the receptacle.

A concomitant object of the present invention is to provide a valve protecting device so combined with means for alternately locking and opening the valve as to be adapted for use with receptacles for compressed or liquefied gaseous media in which the discharge of gases occurs at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined protecting or shielding and opening device for valves in receptacles for compressed and liquefied gaseous media which is so installed on the receptacle that the valve cannot be opened before special safety or sealing means is removed from its discharge or refilling nipple.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide sealing and locking means for valves in receptacles for highly compressed gaseous media which may be utilized as valve opening means.

A further object of my invention is to provide a valve protecting or shielding device for use in connection with receptacles or bottles of the above described character which need not be removed when the receptacle is refilled, and which is combined with means for facilitating the suspension of receptacle during transportation, refilling and storage.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a protecting, locking and opening device for the valves in receptacles for compressed and liquefied gaseous media combined with novel means for suspending the receptacle and for maintaining same in vertical position during transportation, refilling and storage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide :1 protecting device for valves in receptacles for gaseous media which is so constructed as to permit access to the discharge opening of the valve without requiring prior removal from the receptacle or changes in its position with respect to the valve.

The above and certain other objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a valve protecting or ice shielding device in the form or" a cap or a stirrup which is preferably releasably connected to the apertured end of a receptacle in which the receptacle filling and evacuating valve is mounted. The protecting device is permanently or releasably connected with valve actuating means, such as a swingable lever or a combination lock nut and bolt which may also serve as a means for maintaining the valve in closing position when the receptacle is in storage, at the filling station, or in transit from one to another location, e.g. to the locale of actual use.

If the valve actuating means is a swingable lever, it is so mounted on the valve protecting or shielding device that it may open, or that it may permit opening of, the valve in one of its positions and preven s opening of the valve in another position. Means, either connected to the lever or removably connectable to the nipple of the valve, are provided to retain the lever in valve-closing position. Such lever retaining or locking means preferably assumes the shape of a nut which may be connected to the lever by a short flexible element, and which may be screwed onto the nipple of the valve to seal the same and to simultaneously lock the lever in valve-closing position or, alternately, to maintain the lever in such position as to enable the valve to automatically block the discharge of gases from the receptacle. The length of aforementioned flexible element, e.g. a chain, which connects the lever with the retaining or locking means therefor, is preferably so selected that the lever cannot be moved into a position to open, or to permit opening of, the valve before the lever-locking and valve-sealingvv means is removed from the nipple. The nipple is preferably radially disposed with espect to the axis of the receptacle or bottle, e.g. a metallic cylinder containing ox gen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, or another highly compressed or liquefied gaseous medium; and the valve is usually opened or closed by movements of its stem in the axial direction of the receptacle.

The protecting means for the valve is preferably formed with openings or cutouts for permitting" observation of the valve, for enabling the nipple to extend therethrough, and for receiving that end of the actuating lever about which the lever pivots and which is preferably formed as a cam for opening or closing the valve when the lever is swung into a given position. Thus, the protecting means or cap need not be removed from the receptacle or cylinder when the valve is actuated, or when the cylinder is refilled. All valve opening, locking and sealing devices may be permanently or releasably connected with the cap to prevent losses or misplacing' of parts, and the means for connecting the cap to the cylinder usually comprises studs, eyelets or like projections to which a special receptacle-suspending device may be attached which latter, in turn, may be suspended from a conveyor, a crane or the like, to maintain the receptacle in upright position.

Since the cylinders or bottles for highly compressed gaseous media are usually filled in a fully automatic manner, the filling stations operate with conveyors or similar types of receptacle transporting apparatus. Smaller receptacles are transported in upright position on roller conveyors. However, the steel cylinders for oxygen and other highly compressed or liquefied gases, e.g. carbon dioxide, are of such dimensions that they cannot be left unsupported in upright position and, therefore, are conveyed in horizontal or nearly horizontal position to be moved into vertical position at the filling station, and to be thereupon returned into horizontal position for removal to storerooms or to locales or" actual use. The novel suspending means preferably assumes the form of interconnected hooks one of which engages the conveyor and at at least two of which engage the aforementioned studs or eyelets which latter are connected to the receptacle and/or to the protecting means. This arrangement renders it unnecessary to maintain the cylinders in horizontal position and constitutes a great convenience as well as a timeand labor-saving device.

I As before stated, a very important feature of the invention is in that the valve protecting or shielding means, be it a cap or a stirrup-shaped device, need not be removed during the filling of receptacles or during the evacuation of gaseous media, because it is so formed as to permit access to the nipple and because it supports the valve opening and locking device which latter can thus be reached and actuated without requiring separation from the valve protecting means and without requiring any changes in the latters position with respect to the receptacle.

Other features of the invention reside in the provision of means for varying the position of actuating lever in which the latter causes opening of the valve; in the provision of a specially shaped actuating lever whose operating or handgrip end is hidden in the protecting cap when in valve-locking position; and in the provision of specially constructed valves wln'ch may either seal or open in a fully automatic way when not engaged by the actuating means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of certain specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal central section through one form of the improved valve sealing, protecting, locking and actuating device shown in valve sealing and locking position at the apertured end of a metallic cylinder;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device as seen in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is top plan view of the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates the device in a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 in which the valve actuating means is in operative position and the valve nipple is unsealed;

FIG. 5 is longitudinal central section through a modified sealing, protecting, locking and actuating device applied to a valve diiferent from that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 in which the valve is in open position;

FIG. 7 shows in side elevation a different embodiment of the novel device comprising modified valve actuating and locking means;

FIG. 8 is top plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is side elevational view of a further embodiment with a modified protecting cap;

FIG. 10 is part sectional and part elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the section through the valve protecting cap being taken on line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is part sectional and part elevational view of an additional embodiment with a modified valve actuating and sealing device, the valve being shown in open position; and

FIG. 12 shows in perspective view one end of a metallic cylinder with the device of FIGS. 7 and 8 applied thereto, and further showing a device from which the cylinder may be suspended during transportation, refilling or storage.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrated embodiments, and first to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the combined valve actuating, protecting, locking and sealing device is installed at the end of a metallic cylinder 10 of circular shape, such as are customarily employed for transportation and storage of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, or any other highly compressed or liquefied gaseous medium. The illustrated end of receptacle or cylinder 10 is connected to or integrally formed with a smallerdiameter collar 11 to which is secured an annulus 12 having external threads 13 and 21 preferably coaxial and preferably conical tapped bore whose threads mesh with external threads 19 on the conical end of a valve element 18. Suitable sealing means, not shown, prevent escape of compressed fluid medium between the meshing threads of member 12 and valve 18. The tapped bore in annulus 12 communicates with the opening in the illustrated end of cylinder 10 through which the gaseous medium may be introduced into or evacuated from the cylinder, and which is controlled by element 18.

Valve 18 comprises a body or casing 20 having an axial bore 21 consisting of communicating sections or zones of dilferent diameters. Bore 21 communicates with a radially extending channel or bore 24 which latter is preferably coaxial with a radial pipe connection or nipple 23 serving as a means for filling and evacuating the cylinder 10. To that end, nipple 23 is provided with external or internal threads, depending upon the regulations governing the use and construction of receptacles for highly compressed gases. In all illustrated embodiments, the nipple or connection 23 is formed with external threads 25.

The enlarged zone or section 210 of valve bore 21, which is adjacent to member 12, receives a valve disk 28 biased by a helical spring 28a in a direction to abut against the shoulder or seat at the upper end of zone 21a, whereby to normally seal the zone 21a from the reduced-diameter zone or section 2111 of bore 21. Thus, the disk 28 and resilient means 28a normally prevent discharge of a compressed gaseous medium from the cylinder or bottle 10 into the channel or bore 24. The sealing action of disk 28 is enhanced by the expansive force of compressed gas in cylinder 10.

The section or zone 21c of bore 21 receives a sealing washer or gasket 32 whose extensions abut against a shoulder between the zones 21c and 21d of bore 21; the other side of gasket 32 is in contact with the underside of a guide sleeve or bush 36 which is also received in the zone or section 210 of bore 21 and has an axial bore for guiding the valve stem 41 connected to, or forming part of a valve tappet or lifter 40. The latter is guided in the bore of an adjusting or tightening nut 50 which is screwed into the internally threaded upper end of valve body 20. A coil spring 45 surrounds the stem 41 and operates between the underside of the valve tappet 4i) and an internal shoulder in the bush 36 to thus constantly urge the members 40 and 41 in a direction away from the valve disk 28, as is shown in FIG. 1. A valve opening bolt 53, whose function will be described in full detail hereinafter, is screwed into the valve tappet 40. Stem 41 and bolt 53 are coaxial with cylinder 10.

A protecting or shielding cap 55 surrounds the valve 18 and is formed at its open end with an external flange 56 which abuts against the exposed major surface of annular member 12. Flange 56 is held in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 by an inwardly extending annular collar 76 forming part of a holding or retaining ring 75 whose internal threads mesh with external threads 13 on member 12. Retaining means 75 comprises a pair of diametrically opposed radial projections or studs 77 whose purpose is to engage with means for suspending the cylinder or bottle 10, as will be described hereinafter in connection with FIG. 12. In addition, studs 77 may be utilized as handgrip members for tightening the retaining means 75 on or for separating the retaining means from the cylinder 10, and more particularly from the annular member 12. Studs 77 may be replaced by eyelets or other means to which a hook shaped device may be connected.

Adjacent to its flange 56, cover or cap 55 is formed with an opening 57 permitting observation of the nonrepresented seal between the external threads 19 on valve element 18 and the internal threads in member i2. At its arcuate or domed closed end, cover 55 is formed with a closed transverse slot 58 which divides the closed end of member 55 into two spaced portions supporting a transverse pivot axle or pin 59 which latter spans the slot 58 and swingably supports a valve opening and locking lever 60. The enlarged end portion or head 61 of valve actuating lever 60, which is traversed by the pin 59, is preferably slightly out of round (see FIGS. 1 and 4) and is eccentrically mounted on the member 59. The cam-shaped portion 62 of head 61 may be brought into or out of contact with the head of bolt 53 when the actuating lever 60 is swung about pin 59 between the positions shown in FIG. 4 and FIGS. 1 to 3, respectively. That end of actuating lever 60 which is distant from the head 61 comprises a curved or inwardly bent portion or section 690: and a flat end portion which is bifurcated, i.e. it forms two rather widely spaced prongs 64. The bifurcated end portion of lever 60 is movable by hand into an open cutout 66 formed in the cover 55. As best shown in FIG. 2, the cutout 66 is provided in the flat idewall 86 or the cover 55 and is of such width as to accommodate with certain amount of play not only the pipe connection or nipple 23 and a sealing-locking nut 70, but also the prongs 64 of actuating lever 60 when the latter is in idle position of FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the position of the lever 60 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cylinder or receptacle 1% is ready for transportation or storage in that the forked end portion of lever 6!) surrounds the pipe connection or nipple 23 and is prevented from swinging about its pivot axle 59 by the aforementioned sealing-lock nut 70 which is screwed tight onto the threads 25 of nipple 23 and is in the path of prongs 64. In addition, nut 70 also seals the channel or bore 24 from the surrounding atmosphere.

When it is desired to open the valve element 18, the nut 78 is removed from its nipple or pipe connection 23, i.e. from the path of prongs 64, and the actuating lever 60 is swung about pin 59 into the position of FIG. 4. The cam-shaped portion 62 of head 61 abuts against the head of bolt 53 which latter is axially displaced with the valve tappet 4G in a direction toward the cylinder 10. Valve stem 41 follows such movements of members 40 and 53 against the force of resilient means 45, whereby its free end engages the valve disk 28 and opens the same against the force of spring 28a. The fluid medium is now free to flow through the opening in cylinder 3%, through the zones 21a, 21b and 21d of bore 21, into the channel 24, and into a discharge line (not shown) which may be releasably attached to the nipple 23, e.g. by meshing with external threads 25 a is shown for the locking nut 73 in'FIGS. 1 to 3.

The lever 60 may also, but need not, assume the extreme position of FIG. 4 when the cylinder 10 is refilled with a fluid medium. Thus, if the gas introduced through the channel 24 and into the bore 21 is under sufficient pressure, it will open the valve disk 28 without it being necessary that the cam 62 actually depress the head of bolt 53.

in the modified system of FIGS. and 6 a somewhat different valve 78 is maintained in sealing position by the cam 62a of the lever 60A against the expanding force of a gaseous medium filling the cylinder 10. Thus, the gaseous medium, instead of constantly tending to seal the valve as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, constantly tends to open and actually opens the same when the lever 69A is in the position of FIG. 6 which corresponds to the position of lever 60 shown in FIG. 4. Valve stem 41A is formed at its inner end with a head or closing element 42 which is reciprocable in the zone 21e of bore 21A and abuts against a shoulder or seat between the zone He and the smaller-diameter bore section 21, when the lever 60A is in the position of FIG. 5. It will be noted that the cam 61:: is displaced through approximately 180 degrees with respect to the cam 62 shown in FIG. 1 or 4, i.e. it depresses the parts 40, 41A, 42 and 53 against the force of spring 45 when the lever 60A is in locking position. The

underside of the valve head 42 has a recess receiving a sealing element or gasket 43 which tightly seals the section 21] from adjacent zone 21e of bore 21A when the stern 41A is in the position of FIG. 5.

When the lever 60A is swung into the position of FIG. 6, its cam 62:: is turned away from the head of bolt 53 and enables the spring 45 to move the elements 40, 41A, 42, 43 and 53 in a direction away from the cylinder 10. The expanding force of spring 45 is assisted by the expanding force of gaseous medium in the cylinder or bottle it By rotating the bolt 53 with respect to the valve tappet 49, the axial position of member 53 may be adjusted to vary the position of actuating lever or 60A in which the latters cam 62 or 62a, respectively, causes movements of valve stem 41 or 41A. In this manner, the opening or closing of valve 18 or 78 may be brought about in various positions of the actuating lever 60 or 60A different from those shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 or 5 and 6. In addition, the axially movable bolt 53 allows for necessary adjustments, e.g. when the cam 62 or 62a is replaced by one of slightly different contour. Member 53 thus constitutes an adjustable extension of valve stem 41 or 41A in the axial direction of cylinder 10.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified actuating lever 80 whose end distant from the pivot axle 59 is connected with one end of a short flexible element in the form of chain 89. The other end of chain 89 is connected to a locking-sealing nut 88 whose purpose is analogous to that of member 70 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. Elongated slot or opening '85:: in the closed end of shielding cover or cap is parallel with the latters sidewall 86; therefore, the lever 81 is turned in the member '85 through ninety degrees with respect to the previously described lever 60 or 6ilA. The length of chain 89 is so selected that the lever 89 cannot be swung into valve-actuating position without first removing the locking nut 88 from the nipple. This arrangement prevents unintentional opening of the valve protected by cap 85; the construction of the valve utilized in the assembly of FIGS. 7 and 8 may be identical with that of valve 18 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 or with that of valve 78 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The sidewall 36 of cap 85 is formed with a cutout or opening analogous with the cutout 66 to permit passage of the nipple (not shown) which receives the locking-sealing nut 88. When the latter is removed, the lever 80 may be swung into valve-opening position. An additional advantage of chain 89 is in that it permanently connects the levees!) with the locking nut 88 and thus prevents misplacing or losing of the latter when the valve is in open position.

The protecting cover or cap 91, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is U-shaped, i.e. it has the form of a stirrup consisting of two substantially parallel legs 92, 93 and a base or web 94. Parts 9294 define an open space or recess 95 which receives the valve 18 when the outwardly extending flanges 96 at the free ends of legs 92, 93 are engaged by the collar 76 of holding means 75. Only the flange of leg 93 is shown in FIG. 10. Pipe connection or nipple 23 extends from the open recess 95 which latter is of such width as to permit the application of nut 88 to the externally threaded member 23. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the lever Si) is connected with locking nut 88 by means of a short flexible element or chain 89 which prevents swinging movements of the lever into valve opening position when the nut 88 is fastened to the nipple 23. The chain 89 may be replaced or supplemented by a screw 98 which is shown in phantom lines in lever-locking position in FIG. 9, i.e. it is screwed into the leg 92 of protecting cover or cap 91. A locking screw similar to the member 98 may also be'provided in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8; it may be received in an internally threaded bore (not shown) in the flat portion of lever 81) and may mesh with internal threads provided in an aligned bore formed in the cover or cap 85.

A still further modification of the combined shielding locking, sealing and actuating means for the valve 18 is shown in FIG. 11. Cap 161 is releasably connected to the cylinder or bottle by means of the holding ring 75 in a manner previously described in connection with ring 75 and any one of covers 55, 85 or 91. At its right-hand side, the cap 101 is formed with an open cutout 66 for the passage of the nipple 23, and at its left-hand side with the previously described opening 57 to permit observation of valve 18. The closed end 102 of cap or cover 101 comprises a reinforced zone 103 defining an internally threaded bore which receives the externally threaded stem 106 of a valve actuating and sealing element 105 in the form of a combined bolt and lock nut whose head is formed with an internally threaded blind bore of such diameter as to mesh with external threads 25 on the nipple 23, this position of member 105 being shown in phantom lines. When the nipple sealing and valve actuating element 105 is in its full-line position and is rotated relative to the cap 101 in such direction as to engage the head of, and depress, the bolt 53, the disk 28 of valve 18 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) opens the valve and permits discharge of gaseous medium from the cylinder 10 through the nipple 23. When the member 1&5 is rotated in opposing direction, spring 23a returns the disk 28 into sealing position.

When it is completely removed from the cap 101, the member 105 may be screwed onto the nipple or pipe connection 23, as is shown in phantom lines, and then seals the sole exit from the valve 18.

FIG. 12 illustrate the cylinder 19 combined with a cap 85 of the type shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, together with a lifting or suspending device 110 by means of which the cylinder may be attached to a conveyor system, a crane or the like, not shown. Suspending device 110 comprises a discoid member 111 connected at its underside with a pair of grab hooks or clamps 112 whose arcuate ends 113 engage with the projections or studs 77 of holding ring 75. The upper side of discoid member 111 is connected to a hook 115 by means of which the assembly 110 together with the cylinder 10 may be suspended for storage, during refilling or during transportation.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: a receptacle having an opening; valve means connected to the receptacle for controlling said opening, said valve means comprising a pipe connection; valve protecting means connected to the receptacle and at least partially surrounding said valve means, said protecting means having an opening through which said connection extends; valve actuating means connected to said protecting means for movements with respect thereto; and means comprising a sealing member releasably connectable to said pipe connection for sealing same and for simultaneously locking said actuating means to said protecting means.

2. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: an elongated metallic receptacle having an axis, an end, and formed with an opening at said end; valve means connected to the receptacle for controlling said opening, said valve means comprising a threaded nipple disposed at right angles to the axis of said receptacle; valve protecting mean connected to the receptacle and at least partially surrounding said valve means, said protecting means having an opening through which said nipple extends; valve actuating means connected to said protecting means for movements with respect thereto; and means comprising a nut threadable onto said nipple for sealing same and for simultaneously locking said actuating means to said protecting means.

3. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: a receptacle having an opening; a valve connected to the receptacle for controlling said opening; the valve having a nipple; a protecting cap connected to said receptacle and at least partially surrounding said valve; a valve actuating lever connected to said cap for swinging movements between a first position in which said valve is open and a second position in which said valve closes the opening in said receptacle; a not connectable to said nipple for sealing same; and flexible means for connecting the not with said lever, the length of said flexible means being such that the lever is prevented from being swung into said first position when the nut is connected to said nipple.

4. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: a receptacle having an opening; a valve connected to the receptacle for controlling said opening, the valve having a threaded nipple; a protecting cap releasably connected to said receptacle and at least partially surrounding said valve, the cap having a cutout through which said nipple extends; a valve actuating lever connected to said cap for swinging movements between a first position in which said valve is open and a second position in which said valve closes the opening in said receptacle; a not adapted to be threaded onto said nipple for sealing same; and a chain for connecting the nut with said lever, the length of said chain being such that the lever is prevented from being swung into said first position when the nut is screwed onto said nipple.

5. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: a receptacle having an end and an opening at said end; an externally threaded annular member connected to the end of said receptacle; a valve connected to the end of said receptacle for controlling said opening; a protecting cap at least partially surrounding said valve; a retaining ring for releasably connecting said cap to the end of said receptacle, said ring having a threaded portion meshing with said annular member and a plurality of projections extending therefrom; means releasabiy engageable with said projections for suspending said ring and said receptacle thereon; and valve actuating means connected to said cap for movements with respect thereto.

6. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: an elongated receptacle having an axis, an end, and defining an opening at said end; an externally threaded annular member connected to the end of said receptacle; a valve connected to the end of said receptacle for controlling said opening; a protecting cap at least partially surrounding said valve; a retaining ring for releasably connecting said cap to said receptacle, the ring having an internally threaded portion meshing with said annular member and a pair of diametrically opposed studs extending therefrom substantially at right angles to the axis of said receptacle; means for suspending said receptacle comprising a substantially discoid body member having an underside and an upper side, a pair of hooks connected to said underside and each releasably engaging with one of said studs, and a third hook connected to said upper side; and valve actuating means connected to said cap for movements with respect thereto between a first position in which said valve closes said opening and a second position in which the valve is open to permit passage of a gaseous medium through the opening of said receptacle.

7. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: an elongated metallic cylinder for receiving a highly compressed gaseous medium, the cylinder having an axis, an end, and an opening at said end through which the medium may be fi'iied into and evacuated from said cylinder; a valve connected to the end of said cylinder and extending into said opening for controlling the passage of the medium therethrough, the valve having a reciprocabl stern coaxial with said cylinder and a nipple disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of said cylinder; a protecting cap connected to the end of said cylinder and at least partially surrounding said valve, the cap having a cutout through which said nipple extends; a lever connected to said cap for swinging movements with respect thereto whereby to reciprocate said stem; a nut releasably connect-able to said nipple for sealing same; and a flexible element connecting said lever with said nut, the length of said flexible element being such as to prevent swinging movements of the lever when the nut is connected to said nipple.

8. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: an elongated metallic cylinder for receiving a highly compressed or liquefied gaseous medium, the cylinder having a longitudinal axis, an end, and an opening at said end through which the medium may be filled into or evacuated from said cylinder; a valve connected to the end of said cylinder for controlling the passage of the medium through said opening, the valve having a reciprocable stem coaxial with, and an externally threaded nipple disposed substantially at right angles to, the axis of said cylinder; a protecting cap surrounding said valve, the cap having a cutout through which said nipple extends and a closed slot at a point distant from said cylinder; retaining means for releasably connecting the cap to the end of said cylinder; a lever having a cam-shaped end extending into said closed slot and pivotally connected to said cap whereby the lever is swingable with respect to the cap in a plane passing through the axis of said cylinder and said cam shaped portion reciprocates said stem, the lever having a second end which is adjacent to said cap when the lever is swung into an extreme positon with respect to said cap; a nut adapted to be secrewed onto said nipple for sealing same; and a flexible element connecting said nut with said lever, the

16 length of said flexible element being such that the lever is maintained in said extreme position when the nut is screwed onto said nipple.

9. A device of the character described comprising, in combination: an elongated metallic cylinder for receiving a highly compressed or liquefied gaseous medium, the cylinder having a longitudinal axis, an end, and an opening at said end through which the medium may be filled into or evacuated from said cylinder; a valve connected to the end of said cylinder for controlling the passage of the medium through said opening, the valve having a reciprocable stern coaxial with, and an externally threaded nipple disposed substantially at right angles to, the axis of said cylinder; a protecting cap surrouding said valve, the cap having a cutout through which said nipple extends and a closed slot at a point distant from said cylinder; retaining means for releasably connecting the cap to the end of said cylinder; a lever having a cam-shaped end extending into said closed slot and pivotally connected to said cap whereby the lever is swingable with respect to the cap in a plane passing through the axis of said cylinder and said cam shaped portion reciprocates said stem, the lever having a second end which is adjacent to said cap when the lever is swung into an extreme position with respect to said cap; a nut adapted to be screwed onto said nipple for sealing same; and a screw for releasably connecting the lever with said cap at a point distant from said cam-shaped end thereof whereby to maintain the lever in said extreme position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,490,227 Osborn Apr. 15, 1924 1,494,395 Wells May 20, 1924 1,833,924 Wayer Dec. 1, 1931 2,500,214 Stroop Mar. 14, 1950 2,514,147 Thomas July 4, 1950 2,685,989 Samuels Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 400,483 Great Britain Oct. 26, 1933 815,352 Germany Oct. 1, 1951 

